Description
These Irish Soda Bread Scones are a delightful twist on traditional soda bread, combining a tender, crumbly texture with sweet bursts of raisins and fresh orange zest. Perfect for a cozy breakfast or afternoon tea, these scones are quick to prepare and bake to a golden perfection in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Wet Ingredients
- 1 stick cold butter (1/2 cup)
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 cup buttermilk, plus 1 tablespoon for brushing
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) to ensure it reaches the ideal baking temperature by the time your dough is ready.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt, and orange zest until evenly combined.
- Cut in butter: Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut the cold butter into the flour mixture until the texture resembles coarse crumbs, which helps create that flaky scone texture.
- Add liquids: Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and the vanilla extract gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix to keep the scones tender.
- Fold in raisins: Gently fold in the raisins so they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough without crushing them.
- Knead and shape: Lightly flour a surface and knead the dough 5 to 10 times to bring it together. Using a 1/3 cup scoop, drop mounds of dough onto a baking sheet prepared with parchment paper or lightly greased.
- Score and brush: Cut a small “X” on the top of each scone to help them bake evenly. Brush each scone with the remaining 1 tablespoon of buttermilk and sprinkle a little sugar on top for a golden, slightly crunchy finish.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the scones for 13-15 minutes or until they turn golden brown on top.
- Cool and serve: Allow the scones to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving to let them set and enhance their flavor and texture.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is very cold for the best flaky texture.
- Do not overmix the dough, as this can make the scones tough.
- Orange zest can be substituted with lemon zest for a different citrus twist.
- Serve warm with butter, jam, or clotted cream.
